-도 Particle

Category
Basic Grammar
Premium
Keyword #
Also, Even if
Lesson
3

TL;DR

  • The particle -도 means "also," "too," or "even" and attaches directly to nouns 📎
  • It replaces subject particles (이/가) and topic particles (은/는), but can combine with other particles like 에도, 한테도 🔄
  • When used with question words (누구, 뭐, 어디, etc.), -도 creates negative meanings like "nobody," "nothing," "nowhere" ⛔

What is -도? 🤔

-도 is a super useful particle that means "also," "too," or "even" ✨
It attaches directly to nouns to show that something applies to that noun in addition to something else 🎯

Basic Usage 📚

Simply attach -도 to any noun 💪
→ 나도 학생이에요 (I'm also a student)
→ 저도 한국 음식 좋아해요 (I also like Korean food)
→ 친구도 왔어요 (My friend came too)

Replacing Particles 🔄

-도 replaces 이/가 and 은/는 when you use it 🚨
Wrong: 나는도 ❌
Right: 나도 ✅
Wrong: 친구가도 ❌
Right: 친구도 ✅

Combining with Other Particles ➕

-도 can combine with location and other particles by attaching after them 🏗️
→ 집에도 있어요 (It's at home too) 🏠
→ 친구한테도 말했어요 (I told my friend too) 💬
→ 서울에서도 살았어요 (I lived in Seoul too) 🌆
→ 저하고도 가요 (Go with me too) 👥

"Even" Meaning 🌟

When emphasizing something unexpected or extreme, -도 means "even" rather than "also" 😮
→ 아이도 알아요 (Even a child knows) 👶
→ 하나도 없어요 (There isn't even one / There's none at all) 0️⃣
→ 물도 안 마셨어요 (I didn't even drink water) 💧

Question Words + -도 = Negative Meaning ⛔

This is a game-changer! When you attach -도 to question words in negative sentences, it creates meanings like "nobody," "nothing," "nowhere" 🎭
누구도 (nobody) 👻
→ 누구도 안 왔어요 (Nobody came)
아무도 (nobody - more common form) 👤
→ 아무도 없어요 (Nobody is here)
뭐도 / 아무것도 (nothing) 🚫
→ 아무것도 안 먹었어요 (I didn't eat anything / I ate nothing)
어디도 / 아무데도 (nowhere) 📍
→ 아무데도 안 갔어요 (I didn't go anywhere / I went nowhere)
언제도 / 아무때도 (never / at no time) ⏰
→ 아무때도 안 바빠요 (I'm never busy)

Exceptions ⚠️

When using -도 with amounts or numbers, it emphasizes the quantity 🔢
→ 세 시간도 기다렸어요 (I waited for as much as three hours / even three hours) ⏳
This structure emphasizes that the amount is significant or surprising 😲
 
Try the following exercise.
Fill in the blanks using the -도 particle. 📝
 
 
  • 저는 한국어___ 공부해요.
Answer
저는 한국어도 공부해요. (I study Korean too/also.)
 
 
  • 오빠___ 학생이에요?
Answer
오빠도 학생이에요? (Is your older brother a student too?)
 
 
  • 친구___ 김치를 좋아해요.
Answer
친구도 김치를 좋아해요. (My friend also likes kimchi.)
 
 
  • 나___ 영화를 봤어요.
Answer
나도 영화를 봤어요. (I watched the movie too.)
 
 
  • 비가 와요. 눈___ 와요.
Answer
비가 와요. 눈도 와요. (It's raining. It's snowing too.)
 
 
  • 사과___ 먹고 싶어요.
Answer
사과도 먹고 싶어요. (I want to eat apples too.)
 
 
  • 동생___ 피자를 주문했어요.
Answer
동생도 피자를 주문했어요. (My younger sibling ordered pizza too.)
 
 
  • 저___ 그 노래를 알아요.
Answer
저도 그 노래를 알아요. (I know that song too.)
 
 
  • 엄마___ 커피를 마셔요.
Answer
엄마도 커피를 마셔요. (Mom drinks coffee too.)
 
 
  • 고양이___ 집에 있어요.
Answer
고양이도 집에 있어요. (The cat is at home too.)
 
Vocabulary
한국어 - Korean language
공부하다 - to study
오빠 - older brother (said by females)
학생 - student
친구 - friend
김치 - kimchi
좋아하다 - to like
영화 - movie
보다 - to watch
비 - rain
눈 - snow
사과 - apple
먹다 - to eat
동생 - younger sibling
피자 - pizza
주문하다 - to order
노래 - song
알다 - to know
엄마 - mom
커피 - coffee
마시다 - to drink
고양이 - cat
집 - home
Common mistakes
  • 🚫 Forgetting that -도 replaces the particles 이/가 and 을/를, not 은/는
  • 🚫 Using -도 twice in the same sentence when only one item should be emphasized
  • ⚠️ Confusing -도 (also/too) with -만 (only)
  • 💡 Remember: -도 attaches directly to the noun without spacing